Observations on politics, news, culture and humor

The ugly side of Cameron’s Britain

Since the Conservative-LibDem coalition took power this spring, it seems like most American press coverage has been on the good things–the meaningful austerity measures, the pro-civil liberties backlash against things like CCTV and openness on issues like torture and extraordinary rendition. These good things have been encouraging. They’re far better than what Blair and Brown were producing. But that’s not to say Cameron’s government is all wonders and fun.

The Independentreports on the Home Secretary’s stated desire to roll back key provisions of one of Blair’s few positive accomplishments, the 2003 Licensing Act. This act did away with draconian World War I-era laws that had mandated closing times for bars and pubs. Public houses gained the right to apply for licenses for longer operating hours. I’m offended that private businesses should have to go to the government at all to set their operating hours, but at least today’s situation is better than it used to be. And now the Cameron government wants to go back to the old, anti-property, anti-freedom way, presumably to strengthen their barely-existing tough-on-crime conservative credentials. Too bad there’s nothing conservative about meddling in the affairs of private businesses.

Then The Independentcovered Cameron himself, announcing details for his planned program of teenagers offering compulsory sacrifices at the altar of nationalism National Citizen Service. At least this proposal is nothing new, having served as a key part of Cameron’s campaign. Money quote:

Mr Cameron paid tribute to the present generation, saying it was “passionate and idealistic”, but said “too many teenagers appear lost and feel their lives lack shape and direction”. He added: “National Citizen Service will help change that. A kind of non-military national service, it’s going to mix young people from different backgrounds in a way that doesn’t happen right now.” It was originally estimated that the first year of the service, which was a key Tory election pledge endorsed by the actor Sir Michael Caine, would cost £13m with a further £37m to be made available when the scheme was rolled out.

Mixing people from different backgrounds is great. What’s not great is telling your fellow citizens that you have a right to their lives and that you will rob them of some part of their finite time on this earth to satisfy your ideological intrigue. Just like I said to Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang yesterday, politicians need to realize that we do not employ them so they can give us rights; our rights exist independently of any government. We employ them so they can protect our natural rights from violation.

Bottom line: Cameronism, two months in, has had its successes, but the big state, “I Vow to Thee My Country” slop is still there in great measure, too.